14

10-11 for most kids. But once they are teens, we went backward for a bit and wanted an adult home as much as possible.

Anonymous wrote:Title pretty much says it all. We’re getting DD 10 (11 this summer) a phone soon, and as she goes into middle school next year, thinking about what age she could let herself in after school a night or two a week. DH and I can work our work from home schedules around this issue a bit, but I’m thinking there will be some evenings when she gets home first.

Don't get your kid a phone at 10! All of the research is pointing to this being a bad decision. Get a watch and lock it down if you need some way to contact them or know where they are. We got our DD a watch at 11 and it's been more than enough for what she needs and we restricted things she does not need or is not old enough for yet. The watch ends up being only a little bit interesting because she can text and call people but does not capture her attention for long periods of time like a phone would.

9

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t you all latch key kids?

I mean NYC kids take the subway to school alone by 3rd grade.

Middle schoolers babysit. Stop the coddling

I was a latchkey kid in first grade, which was probably too young, but I managed. I can't imagine worrying about a middle schooler.

Anonymous wrote:Make sure they know basic things like metal can’t go in the microwave *because it will catch fire or explode* or plastic wrap and to automatically lock the front door behind them. What they may not use ex. knives/matches/stove

If they are allowed to have friends over, go outside to play/ride bikes etc.

These may or may not be things I did when I was left home alone at that age.

shockingly, i live in a place where they don't even have to worry about locking the door

Anonymous wrote:9

This was it for us as well. It's not every day, but it happens.

This totally depends on your kid. My oldest was fine being home alone but then got worried about break ins as he got more aware of news and current events. He started coming home alone in 5th or 6th grade.

My younger kid didn’t have those fears and was fine being home alone at a much younger age. We didn’t have the same issue being home alone after school because of older siblings but left her home for periods of time when we were at siblings games or sports practices probably starting at age 8/9.

I'm not sure the exact age, and it comes down to a million factors (responsibility of kids, neighborhood, how late you get home, back up plan, etc, etc) but I think nearly all healthy 11 year old middle schoolers would be absolutely fine for this.

Anywhere near 10. 9.75 yo DD calls me to tell me she got in.

9

I'm less concerned about once they get home. It's the route home that's more important. I know the house is safe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once kids hit middle school there arent really many options except for kids to be home alone.

My 11 year old 7th grader was home by 2:45. He had no choice but to be home solo for a few hours.

Not judging you because you know you’re kid. But there are always choices. I’m the above PP that pays a sitter. Yes it costs money but it’s what we do to not leave DD alone when she doesn’t want to be left that frequently.

You want me to get a babysitter for my seventh grader? Seriously? 😂. I mean you are right there are choices and I know my kid, but we should be helping our kids grow up and do developmentally appropriate things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t you all latch key kids?

I mean NYC kids take the subway to school alone by 3rd grade.

Middle schoolers babysit. Stop the coddling

No they don’t. If grades 3-6 live more than a mile they get a school bus. They don’t get bus transportation if they are less than 1.2 mile.

Parents walk them the short distance to school. If not they will accompany their kids or arrange and pay for their own transportation. You will not see 7 and 8 year olds on the subway alone as a rule.

Parent cards stop after 2nd grade and most kids just go with other kids and yes they are on the subway without parents. So they would be 8-9 at the youngest but still happen all of the time

You are saying nothing. “most kids just go with other kids”. What kids? How many? What percentage? Which subway do you ride that see all these small children riding alone.

The "small children" are not alone if they're with other, older kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Weren’t you all latch key kids?

I mean NYC kids take the subway to school alone by 3rd grade.

Middle schoolers babysit. Stop the coddling

No they don’t. If grades 3-6 live more than a mile they get a school bus. They don’t get bus transportation if they are less than 1.2 mile.

Parents walk them the short distance to school. If not they will accompany their kids or arrange and pay for their own transportation. You will not see 7 and 8 year olds on the subway alone as a rule.

There are no yellow school buses in Manhattan.

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fpreviews.123rf.com%2Fimages%2Fsiempreverde22%2Fsiempreverde221806%2Fsiempreverde22180655243%2F105770612-new-york-usa-sep-22-2015-yellow-school-bus-on-the-eighth-avenue-manhattan-8-avenue-begins-in-the.jpg&tbnid=P26xJAN0nmUSWM&vet=12ahUKEwji5bfyz8qDAxVjI2IAHU4TCR8QMygpegUIARCsAQ..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.123rf.com%2Fphoto_105770612_new-york-usa-sep-22-2015-yellow-school-bus-on-the-eighth-avenue-manhattan-8-avenue-begins-in-the-wes.html&docid=w7P13Xbi_p-_EM&w=1300&h=865&q=are%20there%20yellow%20buses%20in%20manhattan%20nyc&client=safari&ved=2ahUKEwji5bfyz8qDAxVjI2IAHU4TCR8QMygpegUIARCsAQ" border="0" class="embeddedImage" />

8th Avenue. Not sure if I did the picture correctly.